Check-blank



(No Model.)

. H.. ROGERS CHECK BLANK.

` Paented June' 2, 1896.

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UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. ROGERS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

CHECK-ELAN K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,179, dated J une 2, 1896.

Application iled September 5,1895. Serial No. 561,532. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Birmingham, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Blanks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the means for protecting checks and similar blanks used to represent values in money.

It relates more particularly to that class of checks and similar blanks which are provided with a stub or space containing rows of numbers from l t0 9 or 0, on which the amount of the check is indicated by punching therefrom the numerals composing said amount, one numeral being punched in each row. It being difficult to restore the paper removed by the punch-marks, the alteration of the written part of the check for the purpose of raising the amount was to some extent prevented. There is,however,nothin g to prevent removal of the whole stub containing the punch-marks, and after such being done the amount of the check could be readily altered,

nothing showing the absence of such punched numbers, which would otherwise also indicate the amount.

The object of my invention is, therefore, to prevent in check-blanks of the kind described the removal of the numbered stub, or, what is the equivalent, to show the absence of it in case such removal has been accomplished.

In the following speciiication and particularly pointed outin the claims is found a full description of my invention, together with its use and application, which is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which--I Figure l shows a check-blank embodying the features of my invention. 4 Fig. 2 shows a modified form of my invention and the same applied to a draft-blank. Fig. 3 shows the reverse side of a detachable stub to be used as a letter of advice and forming before detachment a part of the blank shown in the preceding figure.

At one (preferably the left) end of the blank there are upright rows of numbers, preferably five, as shown, each containing numbers from l to 9 or 0. In the rst row, meaning the one next to the body of the blank, units of dollars are contained, in the second tens of dollars, in the next hundreds, and so on, as will be readily understood. Thus if the check was to be for seven dollars, the iigure 7 in the first row would be punched out; if for eighty-three dollars the 3 in the first and the 8 in the second would be punched out, it being understood that in each case the unused part of the stub is to be cut off to prevent raising the value of the check by punching additional numbers in the other higher rows.

The blank proper is filled out in the usual way and the printing .thereon is substantially the same as in the usual forms, with the exception that in the sentence directing payment additional words are added, calling attention to the punch-marks. Thus, for instance, the sentence may read: Pay amount indicated by lowest punched figure in each column of stub to order of Inasmuch, however, as in practice this sentence is hardly ever read, it may very often happen that the notice therein referring to thev punched numbers is overlooked and if the numbered stub with the punch-marks were entirely cut off its absence might never be noticed. To prevent such removal,the rst or all the numbered rows are curved in a manner shown, the concave part of the rst row being toward the body of the check, and the space c, surrounded partly by this first row, is partly occupied by printed matter forming part of the check-blank, or where a vignette, cut, word, motto, or picture is used such may wholly or in part occupy this space. In either case it will be readily seen from consulting the drawings that it is impossible to cut off completely the stub without mutilating the matter, of whatever nature it is, occupying the concave space surrounded by the first row of figures. Again, if mutilation of such matter were to be avoided, it could only be done in a manner which would leave some of the numbers of the stub on the checkblank, and in either case the appearance of the check would be such as to arouse particular attention.

IOO

As a further protection the number of the cheek is so placed that it also will be mutilated if a separation of the stub from the check is attempted. The stub is provided with an additional number which corresponds with the one of the check, and the clipped-off portion of the stub which carries such number may be used to identify the check.

In Fig. 2 a draft-blank is shown which has an additional stub a-that is, two stubs altogether. The outer one, printed and numbered exactly like the first one, only on the reverse side, is to be folded under this latter on a line b indicated and which is so placed that the rows of figures on said additional stub register with and come below the rows of figures on the upper stub, thereby receiving the same punch-marks. It may then be separated, as shown in Fig. 3, and can be sent as a letter of advice to the bank upon which the draft is drawn, being provided for such purpose with the same running numb er as the latter. An advisory sentence is also put on this extra stub which may read as follows: Drawn byBank of Illinois on Bank of New York for amount indicated by punched figure in each column of the stub.

It is my intention to provide a separate apparatus for the purpose of punching the num bers and clipping oit the unused portion of the stub, which apparatus is made the subject of another application, Serial No. 561,533. To facilitate the placing of the check for such purpose on this apparatus, marks are provided at the lower ends of the numbered rows, reaching to the edge of the blank and indieating the position of any particular row in which a number has to be punched, with reference to the punch.

The particulararrangement, style, or wording of any of the printed mattei' may be varied to suit fancy or special requirements, and any such matter, as long as it expresses the meaning necessary for the purpose of carrying out my invention, is considered as being within its scope and forming part thereof.

Having described my invention, I claim as l. A blank for checks or similar documents, which is provided at one end with a space or stub which contains rows of figures denoting units, tens, hundreds duc. of dollars and out of which rows certain numbers are to be punched for the purpose ofindicating the amount for which the check is drawn, and having parts of the devices or printed matter on the body of the blank proper reaching over onto the space occupied by the numbers, the first row of which next to the body of the blank is appropriately curved to provide the necessary space for this purpose.

2. A blank for checks or similar documents, having at one end a space or stub which contains rows of figures, denoting units, tens, hundreds &c. of dollars, and out of which rows certain numbers are to be punched for the purpose of indicating the amount for which the cheek is drawn, said rows being curved in a manner that the concave part of the curve is toward the main part of the blank, the concave space surrounded by the first row being occupied by devices or printed matter or parts thereof, belonging to the body of the blank proper.

3. A blank for cheeks or similar documents, having at one end a space or stub which contains rows of figures denoting units, tens, hundreds (he. of dollars and out of which rows certain numbers are to be punched for the purpose of indicating the amount for which the check or draft is drawn, said rows being curved,the first one surrounding a space c on the body of Ithe check, and an additional stub at the end oi' the first stub prepared and printed in the same manner so that when folded on a dividing-line between the two stubs and turned under the first stub, it will receive the same punelnmarks in the same corresponding places and on the same numbers.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ll. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

E. N. ITAMILL, JNO. S. Hook. 

